MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has underscored the urgent need to enhance the working conditions of Filipino nurses, emphasizing improvements in the nurse-to-patient ratio and the filling of vacant healthcare positions.
Speaking before members of the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. (PNA) during their national annual convention on Monday, October 19, the President assured medical professionals that the administration remains steadfast in strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
”We must also work towards improving nurse-to-patient ratios, filling vacant positions, [and] providing more opportunities for our Filipino nurses’ growth,” Marcos stated.
He explained that these changes are vital to help medical practitioners execute their duties efficiently.
“All of this is necessary so that our nurses can carry out responsibilities more efficiently and ensure that our healthcare institutions better serve our people,” he added.
To achieve this, Marcos noted that the government is collaborating closely with the Department of Health to uplift medical frontliners.
“To this end, this administration continues to work with the Department of Health to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve the working conditions of our medical frontliners,” he said.
Initiatives are also underway through the Commission on Higher Education and TESDA to expand training pipelines via Alternative Pathways for Nurses. The moratorium on new Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs was lifted in 2022, pushing the number of higher education institutions offering the course from 354 in July 2022 to approximately 425.
Furthermore, the administration significantly increased the budget allocation for the Health Emergency Allowance from ₱6.8 billion in 2022 to over ₱110 billion in 2026. Programs like the Clinical Care Associates Program have also been deployed to assist nursing graduates yet to pass their licensure exams, alongside an enhanced one-year master’s degree program to produce more clinical instructors.
Highlighting the global impact of Filipino healthcare workers, Marcos shared praises he frequently receives from international leaders.
“We are so grateful for the nurses that have been providing exemplary service for our people,” he quoted foreign officials as saying, adding that one monarch once remarked, “if you stop sending us your healthcare workers, then the whole healthcare system in my country will stop.”
”I am very proud to hear this because I know how much our nurses contribute to our country, but also to the countries where they serve,” Marcos expressed.
The President urged continued multi-sectoral cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and professional groups to foster a more resilient healthcare ecosystem, concluding his address by commending the PNA for its dedication.